
Images are like the windows of your website; they draw in visitors and keep them engaged. But did you know that optimising those images can do wonders for your SEO? When images load quickly and look great, it helps your site rank better on search engines. If you want to know how to name images for SEO or why image alt. text is important for SEO, read on…
Why optimise images for SEO?
From making images more visible in search results to ensuring that your web pages can load with lightning speed, there are a number of SEO benefits to optimising images. With image-based searches on the rise, such as Google Lens, Pinterest Lens and Bing Visual Search — more people are relying on these kinds of image software for answers to their questions.
We are indeed visual creatures and while copy is crucial, images can really make your website pop. They can be used to convey your brand image and entice customers to buy your products.
Now that you know exactly why you should be optimising your images, we’re now going to reveal exactly how you can improve your image use across your website.
What is the best image format for a website?
- JPEG is a commonly used image format, especially for photos and images with complex colour patterns. It uses lossy compression, meaning some data is discarded to reduce file size, which can result in a slight loss of quality. It is mainly used for:
– Photographs or images with many colours and gradients.
– When you need smaller file sizes for faster loading times.
– Situations where slight quality loss is acceptable (e.g., web content, social media).
- PNG is a lossless image format, meaning it preserves all the original data and quality. It supports transparency, making it ideal for images with transparent backgrounds or semi-transparent elements. It is good for:
– Images that require transparency, such as logos or icons.
– Graphics with text or sharp edges where you need to maintain clarity.
– When preserving image quality is more important than file size (e.g., screenshots, digital art).
- SVG is a vector image format, meaning it uses mathematical formulas to define shapes rather than pixels. This allows SVG images to scale infinitely without losing quality. It is ideal for:
– Logos, icons, and illustrations that need to be resized frequently.
– Web graphics where responsiveness and scalability are important.
– When you need an image to be displayed crisply on any screen size or resolution.
Common image problems and how to resolve them:
- Blurry or pixelated images – You can use specialist apps such as Adobe Express and Canva to do this. This will involve image resizing in terms of width and height.
- Parts of an image appearing cropped – Ensure that the container dimensions match the aspect ratio of the image to avoid cropping. If using the image as a background, use background-size to ensure it scales properly.
- Slow to load – You can compress images before uploading them. Also, consider using modern image formats, which offer better compression and quality.
- Images not showing – For this, ensure the image paths are correct relative to the location of your HTML file. It is also important that the image format is supported by browsers (e.g., JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP).
How to make your images look great
Optimising image dimensions
Resizing your images to match the display size on your site is crucial. If you upload an image that’s way bigger than you need, it’ll take longer to load. Stick to dimensions that fit your layout. This not only speeds up load times but also ensures your images look crisp and professional.
Keeping a consistent style
Having a consistent style in your images builds your brand’s identity. Whether it’s a particular colour palette or a way of editing, keeping things uniform helps visitors recognise your content instantly. Think of it like creating a signature style that sets you apart. It makes your site visually appealing and keeps readers coming back for more.
Adding alt. text for accessibility
Alt text isn’t just a fancy term; it’s essential for accessibility and SEO. This text describes what’s in the image, making it easier for people using screen readers to understand your content. Plus, search engines rely on alt. text to see what your images are about. Keep it concise but descriptive. Think of it as a mini-tutorial for your image.
Testing and updating regularly
SEO isn’t a one-time task; it requires ongoing effort. Regularly testing how your images perform on your site is key. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can provide feedback on how your images affect load times and overall performance. Don’t hesitate to update images if you find they could be better. It’s all part of keeping your content fresh and engaging. Other tips include:
- Images should be compressed before uploading to a website to improve loading speed and reduce file size. However, over-compressing can reduce image quality. A compression factor of 15 is recommended, as it balances smaller file sizes with good visual quality.
- File names should be titled correctly—for example, sound-masking-system.jpg.
- For optimal resolution, around 2500px is ideal. High resolution is better than low resolution. Resolutions can only be decreased, not increased.
- The ideal file size is between 100-500kb
- Only use if images are integral to the business and if there are a lot of unique images
Image optimisation checklist and considerations
Here is a condensed checklist on how to make your images look great for SEO purposes:
☑ Compress images to improve page load speed time
☑ Add Alt tags
☑ Use descriptive file names and titles
☑ Add links to images
☑ Add image captions
☑ Consider accessibility
☑ Add tags to Images
☑ Add images in the right places
Other tips
Logos, icons, and other graphics with transparent backgrounds are often better suited for the PNG format. Additionally, the newer WebP format offers even more efficient compression, making it a smart choice for images where file size is a concern.
Captions can be a powerful way to provide context and add meaning to images on a website. They should be used judiciously, though, as too many captions can become visually distracting. The placement, formatting, and length of captions all need to be carefully considered, ensuring they enhance the user experience rather than detract from it.
Finally, it’s important to avoid using low-quality screenshots on a website. These types of images often have poor resolution, artefacts, and other visual issues that can negatively impact the overall aesthetic. Instead, it’s better to use professionally designed graphics, illustrations, or high-quality photographs that align with the brand and design of the website.
Our favourite free tools
There are an abundance of free tools you can use to optimise your images. However, it is not always easy to choose the best one. Below is a list of a couple of apps we would recommend!
Now that you know how to optimise your images (for free) you can make sure that your content is SEO-friendly and ready to get you those prime-position rankings. As far as SEO is concerned, image optimisation is a small drop in the ocean, but you certainly shouldn’t neglect it, as it contributes to the overall user experience of your website.
After all, slower page and content loading times could bring down your Core Web Vitals — something that could negatively impact your Google rankings. If images are cited as the core reason for a sluggish load time, then you’ll want to start compressing your images for a faster website experience.
Contact Us Give Us A Call